Receptacle for spices and like substances.



G. F. HELSON.

RECEPTACLE FOR SPICES AND LIKE SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. I916.

Patented Nov; 28, 1916.

UNITE@ fiTATlES PATENT @FFIQF).

GILBERT F. HELSON', on NEW YORK, N. Y., AssrGnon T0 n. It. DUBKEE & 00., or NEW YonK, n. Y., A FIRM.

RECEP'I'ACLE FOB. SPICES AND LIKE SUBSTANCES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgntgd N 28, 1916,

Application filed April 6, 1916. Serial No. 89,265.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GILBERT F. Henson, a' subject of the King of Great Britain, but having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing "at the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Receptacles for Spices and like Substances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to receptacles for condiments, such as spices and similar substances, particularly to that character of cans or receptacles providing means for sifting or pouring the contents out of the same, also the filling of the receptacle.

One object of my invention isto avoid liability of waste of the substance contained in the receptacle by accidental uncovering of the openings.

Another object is to provide against dust or other foreign substances accidentally entering the receptacle.

Another object is to facilitate the filling of the receptacle, and a further object is to produce a receptacle of such character that while the top provides means both for sifting and pouring the contents, it also presents asurface which does not interfere with packing together or piling a number of such re-' ceptacles one upon another.

The details of the invention are hereinafter particularly described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, is a plan view of my improved receptacle with the cap in a position closing both the sitting and pouring openings in the fixed top. Fig. 2, is a plan view with the cap removed. Fig. 3, is a plan view with the cap in a position for allowing the contents of the receptacle to be poured. Fig. 4c, is a plan view with the cap in a position for allowing the contents of the receptacle to be sifted. Fig. 5, is a vertical section taken. on the brokenline 5, 5, of Fig. 1. Fig. 6, is a vertical section taken on the broken line 6, 6, of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the capv removed from the receptacle. Fig. 8, is a broken vertical section of a receptacle taken on the same line as the broken line 5, 5, Fig. 1, but showing a modification, and Fig. 9, is a. separate plan view of the plug shaped cap shown in the modification Fig. 8.

Similar reference characters denote the same parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

10, indicates the body of the-receptacle which may be round, square, rectangular, or other desired shape. The receptacle is preferably made of sheet metal, but it may be made of other suitable material, and of any desired size.

The top 11,.of the receptacle is permanently fixed upon the receptacle 10, by any suitable means, such as by crimping, reaming or soldering.

In the preferred form of my invention the top 11, for a predetermined distance from its outer edge is depressed as at 12, leaving a central. raised portion 13, withhorizontal top, which does not extend quite to the top of the side walls of the receptacle. This central raised portion 13, of the top 11, is preferably shaped with square sides rounded slightly at the corners, but the sides may be hexagonal, octagonal, rectangular, or any shape except circular.

In one cornercf central raised portion 13 of the top there is an opening 14, which is preferably circular, and in the opposite corner of this part 13, there are a plurality of perforations or smaller openings 15, within a space corresponding substantially with the size of the opening 14.

16, is a cap having a flat top and depending side walls corresponding in shape with the raised part 13, of the fixed top of the receptacle, and adapted to fit over the same snugly so as to be retained in place with considerable friction.

In one corner of the cap 16, there is an opening 17 of a size and shape to uncover the opening 14:, or the openings 15, in the raised portion 13 of the fixed top 11, when brought in alinement with either of said openings.

When the cap 16, is placed over the raised central part 13, of the fixed top 11, in the position shown in Fig. 1, both the opening 14: and the openings 15, in the part 13 are fully covered and closed by said cap, and cannot be uncovered without removing the cap, as on account of the shape of the side walls it is impossible for the cap to be moved other than in a vertical direction. It will therefore be seen that when the cap is in the position shown in Fig. 1, it is im ossible to pour or sift any of the contents or the receptacle through either the opening 14-, or the openings 15, or for any dust or other foreign matter to enter the receptacle. This is the normal position in which the cap is always to be placed upon the filled receptacle, but when it is desired to pour or sift the contents from the receptacle the cap is then adjusted upon the fixed top to allow for so doing as follows: In order to pour the contents or a portion thereof out of the receptacle, the cap 16 is pulled off the raised part 13 of the fixed top 11, and replaced in the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position the opening 17, in the cap registers with the opening 1 1, in the central raised part 13 of the fixed top, while the openings 15, in the part 13, are covered and closed by said cap. When the desired quantity of the contents has thus been poured from the receptacle, the cap is lifted off and placed back again in the position shown in Fig. 1 thus again effectually closing all the openings in the fixed top.

When it is desired to sift the contents or a portion thereof from the receptacle, the

so that the contents may be sifted therethrough, while the opening 14:, in the raised part 13 of the fixed top is covered and closed by the cap. W hen through sifting the cap is placed back in the position to close all the openings in the fixed top as in Fig. 1.

To aid in lifting the cap 16, from the raised part 13 of the fixed top 11, I provide on opposite outer sides of the cap, finger grips 18. These may be made integral with the cap or secured thereto in any suitable manner. 1

In receptacles of this character, unless the top is removable, it is difficult to fill the same, and there is often great waste of material in filling the receptacle through a small opening in the top; for this reason I provide for filling my improved receptacle from the bottom; the base or bottom 21, of the receptacle not being put on until after the receptacle has been filled.

Fig. 5', illustrates the receptacle with the bottom removed ready for filling; the cap 16, being at such time in the position shown in said figure and also in Fig. 1 covering all the openings in the raised part 13 of the fixed top 11.

Fig. 6, illustrates the filled receptacle with the bottom 21 attached. This bottom may be secured to the can or receptacle after thesame has been filled, in any suitable manner, such as by reaming or crimping.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the-drawing I have shown a modification which is substantially the broken lines 5, 5, in Fig.

a reversed form of top and cap. In other words instead of the fixed top being depressed adjacent the walls of the receptacle with a raised central position for the cap 'to fit over as in the preferred form of my invention, I form a depression 19, in the center of the fixed cover 11, into which is inserted a plug 20, which is provided with an opening 17, in one corner precisely as in the cap 16, while the bottom of the depressed portion 19 is provided with an opening in one corner the same as the opening 1%, in the raised portion 13, and with a group of perforations in the opposite corner the same as shown at 15, in said raised portion 13 in the preferred form. This depressed portion 19 is also made in the same shape as the part 13, in the preferred form, that is it is preferably square, but may be hexagonal, octagonal, rectangular, or any shape except circular, while the plug 20, is made of a corresponding shape, and operates in the same manner as in the preferred form to close all the openings in the depressed portion when desired, or to be adjusted to uncover the pouring opening while the sifting openings are closed, or vice versa. The plug is also provided with the finger grips 18, as is the cap 16, in the other form.

The openings which are in the depressed portion 19, corresponding with the openings 14 and 15 in the part 13 of the cover do not show in Fig. 8, for the reason that this figure illustrates a receptacle in section taken through it on a line such as shown by 1, which is done to show the finger grips 18.

I am aware that receptacles for holding spices and similar substances have been pro vided with means for sifting or pouring the contents, but so far as I am aware the 010s ing plates have been adapted to slide or rotate to uncover the openings for sifting or pouring, and therefore such openings are liable to be accidentally uncovered in handling or packing such receptacles as such covers often come into contact with someobject which will displace them thereby oc casioning loss ofv material or allowing dust or other foreign matter to enter the receptacle. Furthermore with such devices it is diilicult to fill the receptacles without waste of material, unless the covers are removable. By the employment of my invention all such difliculties are overcome.

The cap 16, or the plug 20, after being placed inposition cannot be moved by jar or contact with another object; it fits sufliciently tight to effectually prevent accidental vertical movement, which is the only the receptacle in such manner .that'it does not project above the sides of the receptacle, while its top surface in conjunction with the upper edge of the receptacle presents alevel .way it can be removed; it is positioned on 7 bearing for the bottom of another recep-. tacle when such receptacles are stacked or piled for storage or transportation. Furthermore by providing for filling my improved receptacle at the bottom, such receptacles can be filled much more rapidly than heretofore without waste of material, and with greater facility in every respect.

I claim as my invention 1. A receptacle for spices and like substances, comprising a body, a cover fixed at its outer edge to said body and having a substantially square projecting center portion with vertical sides, the horizontal surface of said projection having a single opening in one corner and a group of openings in the opposite corner, a cap of the same contour fitting said projection and provided with a single opening in one corner, said cap in its normal position covering all the openings in said cover, but by its bodily removal from said cover and replacement thereon in a different position uncovering said single opening in the cover while the said group of openings are covered, and by its bodily removal and replacement in still another position the said group of openings in the cover are uncovered while the said single opening in the cover is closed.

2. A receptacle for spices and like substances, comprising a body, a cover fixed at its outer edge to said body and having substantially square projecting center portion with vertical sides, the horizontal surface of said projection having a single opening in one corner and a group of openings in the opposite corner, a cap of the same contour fitting said projection and provided with a single opening in one corner, lugs upon two opposite sides of said cap, said cap in its normal position covering'all the openings in said cover, but by its bodily removal from said cover and replacement thereon in a different position uncovering said single opening in the cover while the said group of openings are covered, and by its bodily removal and replacement in still another position the said group of openings in the cover are uncovered while the said single opening in the cover is closed.

3. A receptacle for spices and like sub stances, comprising a body, a bottom therefor adapted for attachment after the receptacle has been filled, a cover fixed at its outer edge to said body and having a substantially square projecting center portion with vertical sides, the horizontal surface of said projection having a single opening in one corner and a group of openings in the opposite corner, a cap of the same contour fitting said projection and provided with a single opening in one corner, said cap in its normal position covermg all the openings in said cover, but by its bodily removal from said cover and replacement thereon in a different position uncovering said single opening in the cover while the said group of openings are covered, and by its bodily removal and replacement in still another position the said group of openings in the cover are uncovered while the said single opening in the cover is closed.

4:. A receptacle for spices and like substances, comprising a body, a cover fixed thereto at its outer edge and extending therefrom a predetermined distance in a horizontal line level with the top of said body, and having a substantially square depressed center portion with vertical side walls, the horizontal surface between said walls being provided in one corner with a single opening and in the opposite corner with a group of openings, a plug shaped to fit the interior of said depression in the cover and provided with a single opening, said plug being adapted for insertion in said depression in different positions, whereby in one position all the openings in the cover are closed, in another position the single opening in the cover is uncovered and the group of openings closed, and in another position said group of openings in the cover are uncovered while the single opening therein is closed, such changes of position being made only by the bodily removal of said plug from said depression and its reinsertion therein.

5. A receptacle for spices and like substances, comprising a body, a cover fixed thereto at its outer edge and extending therefrom a predetermined distance in a horizontal line level with the top of said body, and having a substantially square depressed center portion with vertical side walls, the horizontal surface between said walls being provided in one corner with a single opening and in the opposite corner with a group of openings, a plug shaped to fit the interior of said depression in the cover and provided with a single opening, lugs upon two opposite sides of said plug, said plug being adapted for insertion in said depression in different positions, whereby in one position all the openings in the cover are closed, in another position the single opening in the cover is uncovered and the group of openings closed, and in another position said group of openings in the cover are uncovered while the single opening therein is closed, such changes of position being made only by the bodily removal of said plug from said depression and its re-insertion therein.

Signed by me this 22d day of March, 1916.

GILBERT F. HELSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

